More than 200 craft beers featured at fest

This weekend: Plenty beverages to hoist at Midwest Brewers Fest in Plainfield

Beer lovers of all stripes can sample more than 200 craft beers from more than 60 breweries Saturday at the fourth annual Midwest Brewers Fest at Plainfield's Riverfront Park.

Fest vice president Kevin Herbstsaid all proceeds will go to charity. He pointed out that a variety of real ales will be on hand this year, and there will be shuttle service from Naperville and Chicago.

Tickets are $45 when bought in advance on the fest's website and $50 the day of the event. A ticket provides 40 two-ounce pours of beer, Herbst said, plus three 2-ounce pours of homemade beers.

"It's purely a sampling festival," he said. "From our standpoint, we find it's more conducive to what we're trying to promote. We're trying to promote the tasting and enjoyment of craft beer."

The fest will also feature live music, beer/food pairing events and numerous food trucks.

Craft beer has been exploding in the Chicago area, he said.

"In the last 18 months, there has been a huge burst of breweries in the Chicagoland area, and a lot of these breweries are part of the fest," Herbst said.

All proceeds benefit the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana and Pints for Prostates, Herbst said.

Craft beers are becoming more popular because they offer something that major breweries have not, he said.

"People want something that's going to be a little different," he said, "that's going to attack their palate in a good way."